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Numerical Simulations of Thin-Film Solar Cells with Novel Architectures

Spehar, Martin Edward, Jr.
http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=bgsu1626276515324644

Abstract Details

2021, Master of Science (MS), Bowling Green State University, Physics.
The sun outputs a great deal of energy, which can be harnessed using photovoltaics (PV). Over the last few decades, PV devices have seen many technological advancements. Thin-film PV devices have become increasingly popular recently due to having the lowest cost of fabrication. Thin-film PV devices have multiple configurations, but the main configuration this paper will cover are All-Back-Contact (ABC) thin-film PV devices. ABC device performance was simulated by numerically solving the coupled Poisson and current continuity equations using the finite element method and COMSOL Multiphysics® software. The ABC devices that were simulated in this work were primarily based on CdTe as the light absorbing semiconductor. Two layouts were considered: Lattice Back Contact (LBC), and Interdigitated Back Contact (IBC). LBC devices use a substrate (can be a variety of materials e.g., glass, metal, plastic), upon which photovoltaic material is deposited and it sits opposite of the illuminated side. The IBC device is referred to as superstrate because it is illuminated through the substrate material. Both of these devices had two sets of calculations, symmetric contact dimensions and asymmetric contact dimensions. These calculations were performed to see if the LBC device would perform better with larger contact sizes due to advantageous electric field distributions. This was done by comparing the four simulated performance metrics, open-circuit voltage (Voc), short-circuit current density (Jsc), fill factor (FF), and the efficiency (η). It was determined that LBC devices can achieve high efficiency at contact sizes longer than those of IBC devices. This result is important because fabrication cost decreases as contact size increases.
Marco Nardone, Ph.D. (Advisor)
Lewis Fulcher, Ph.D. (Committee Member)
Haowen Xi, Ph.D. (Committee Member)
61 p.
Physics
Numerical simulations; CdSeTe; All-Back-Contact; Thin-film; Finite element method

Recommended Citations

Citations

  • Spehar, Jr., M. E. (2021). Numerical Simulations of Thin-Film Solar Cells with Novel Architectures [Master's thesis, Bowling Green State University]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=bgsu1626276515324644

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • Spehar, Jr., Martin. Numerical Simulations of Thin-Film Solar Cells with Novel Architectures. 2021. Bowling Green State University, Master's thesis. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=bgsu1626276515324644.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • Spehar, Jr., Martin. "Numerical Simulations of Thin-Film Solar Cells with Novel Architectures." Master's thesis, Bowling Green State University, 2021. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=bgsu1626276515324644

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)

bgsu1626276515324644
319
© 2021, all rights reserved.
This open access ETD is published by Bowling Green State University and OhioLINK.